US embassy cable - 98STATE96941

S E C R E T STATE 096941 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/30/2008 
TAGS: PTER 
SUBJECT: TERRORISM:   SEEKING HOST GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE 
         AGAINST OSAMA BIN LADEN THREAT TO U.S. FORCES 
 
CLASSIFIED BY KENNETH R. MCKUNE, ASSOCIATE COORDINATOR FOR 
COUNTERTERRORISM,  S/CT, DEPARTMENT OF STATE, 1.5 (B) (C) (D) 
 
1.  (U)  THIS IS AN ACTION MESSAGE FOR ISLAMABAD, CAIRO, 
SANAA, AND GCC STATES. PLEASE SEE PARAS 3 AND 4 BELOW. 
TASHKENT, PESHAWAR, LONDON: THIS CABLE IS FOR YOUR 
INFORMATION ONLY. 
 
2.  (U)  THE USG IS VERY CONCERNED BY STATEMENTS MADE BY 
TERRORIST OSAMA BIN LADEN AT A MAY 26 PRESS CONFERENCE IN 
KHOST, AFGHANISTAN. BIN LADEN REPORTEDLY SAID: "ALL 
MUSLIMS MUST DECLARE JIHAD AGAINST THEM (THE U.S. TROOPS) 
AND EXPEL THEM FROM THE HOLY LAND (SAUDI ARABIA) .... THE 
JIHAD FATWA HAS INDEED BEEN ISSUED." BIN LADEN ALSO 
INDICATED THAT AN ATTACK COULD TAKE PLACE IN THE NEXT FEW 
WEEKS. 
 
3.  (S)  THE USG TAKES THESE STATEMENTS VERY SERIOUSLY. 
WHILE WE DO NOT HAVE SPECIFIC INFORMATION REGARDING TARGET 
OR TIMING, THERE ARE OTHER INDICATIONS THAT BIN LADEN MAY 
BE PLANNING AN IMMINENT ATTACK AGAINST U.S. OR SAUDI - 
INTERESTS IN THE PERSIAN GULF. DEPARTMENT THEREFORE 
REQUESTS THAT AMBASSADOR OR CHARGE APPROACH APPROPRIATE 
SENIOR OFFICIALS OF THE HOST GOVERNMENT AND DELIVER THE 
POINTS IN PARA 4 BELOW. 
 
4. (S)  BEGIN POINTS. 
 
- ON MAY 26, TERRORIST FINANCIER OSAMA BIN LADEN ADDRESSED 
  A PRESS CONFERENCE IN AFGHANISTAN AT WHICH HE AGAIN 
  CALLED FOR VIOLENT ATTACKS AND A JIHAD ON U.S. FORCES IN 
  THE PERSIAN GULF. HE INDICATED THAT SUCH ATTACKS COULD 
  OCCUR WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. 
 
- THESE STATEMENTS ARE ONLY THE LATEST IN A LONG STRING OF 
  BIN LADEN THREATS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST U.S. CITIZENS 
  AROUND THE WORLD. 
 
- THE USG TAKES- THESE THREATS VERY SERIOUSLY. WE HAVE 
  OTHER INDICATIONS THAT BIN LADEN MAY BE PLANNING AN 
  ATTACK AGAINST AMERICAN INTERESTS IN THE NEAR FUTURE. 
 
- WE ASK YOUR GOVERNMENT'S ASSISTANCE IN THWARTING SUCH AN 
  ATTACK. 
 
- FIRST, WE ASK THAT YOU INCREASE SECURITY AROUND U.S. 
  DIPLOMATIC AND MILITARY FACILITIES. YOU MAY ALSO WISH 
  TO INCREASE SECURITY AT U.S. BUSINESSES AND OTHER 
  POTENTIAL TARGETS WHICH MIGHT BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE 
  U.S. 
 
- SECOND,  IF YOU ARE AWARE OF ANY BIN LADEN ASSOCIATES IN 
  YOUR COUNTRY, WE ASK THAT YOU INTERROGATE THEM AND WATCH 
  THEIR ACTIONS CLOSELY TO SEE IF YOU CAN LEARN ANYTHING 
  MORE OF PLANNING FOR AN ATTACK. 
 
- FINALLY, WE ASK THAT YOU SHARE WITH US ON AN URGENT 
  BASIS ANY INFORMATION YOU LEARN ON BIN LADEN OR HIS 
  ASSOCIATES. 
 
- WE APPRECIATE YOUR COOPERATION IN THIS MATTER, WHICH IS 
  OF THE UTMOST CONCERN TO THE U.S. 
 
END POINTS. 
 
 
ALBRIGHT